My name is Mike, and my wife Valerie and I have been looking at T37's off and on since 2004. I followed Windchime's travels, and Charl's solo circumnavigation. Anyhow, yesterday we went and looked at hull #415, currently listed on Yachtworld for ~ $43K.
The good:
- The hull, deck, and rigging look to be in good shape. No craze lines to be seen in the deck anywhere. - Price includes dry storage at the yard and spring launch.
The bad:
- Was re-powered with a Volvo-Penta Saildrive. Something must be off with the installation because there are a couple of pieces of aluminum added to the trailing edge of the rudder, and they are bent slightly to starboard. Can only guess the engine must have been pushing the boat to port with a neutral rudder and this is for compensation? - The sole is rotted out at the entrance to the V-berth area. I am told that the mast step is solid. - The electrical system is a mess. A lot of the wiring appears to be under-sized, nothing is labelled, and there are multiple bus bars every where. - Mold/mildew on the headliner (not a real big deal). - All of the port lights have been replaced with SS, but several can not be opened because the dogs hit interference. (Can't open the one in the head, not good!). - The fiberglass shields (?) in front of the rudder are missing on the starboard side. - Battery charger currently is not working
Despite this, we are seriously considering purchasing the boat, parking it on poppets next to the house for a couple of years, and doing a Kimberlite type restoration.
Anything else we should look at? Common problems, etc?
Did Eric happen to put up a website chronicling his restoration?
Thanks,
Mike
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